Thread: Gillette fusion Proglide Power review

Well, like many on the forum, I was never taught how to shave, so after 2 years here, I thought I would re-visit a cartridge razor, and apply what I have learnt. One of the worst things I recall about the Mk 3 was clogging issues. I only shave probably on average twice a week, so to give this thing a fair go, I shaved with 2 days growth, used my usual prep, and did three passes.
First gripe, they are advertising down here "shaving from as little as $1 a week" with an asterix and some disclaimer at the bottom that I can't read, but at current prices, that means 1 cart would have to last 8 weeks. Calling B/S on that, wouldn't keep the hair on my knuckles at bay for a week.
I didn't realise this was the power model until I unpacked it, so, in the name of science, I used that function. This makes it vibrate, impossible to say if that makes any difference, just a gimmick in my mind, but it does have a cool little blue light when switched on.
Surprisingly, it did not clog as much as I thought it would, 4 days growth, I am sure would be a different story.
Second gripe, the cart is so big, I couldn't get in under my nose, no matter how I tried, cleaned up with a straight.
The shave was easy, and close, on the face marginally closer than I can get with a straight (so far), the neck, about the same, one small weeper, almost no irritation. YMMV.

Ease of use - 7/10
Quality of shave - 6/10
Build quality - 5/10 (throw away item, body made in China, reasonably solid)
Wow factor - 2/10 (the blue light)
Value for money - 1/10

So there you have it, will I ever go back to a cartridge razor? No
Will I try to get 8 weeks shaving out of 1 cart? I don't think that is even possible, so, no, where as I know now for a fact I can get 70 out of a straight just on leather.
If you want easy, go for one of these.
If you want cheap and relatively easy, try a DE.
If you want to learn a new skill, and have a whole lot of fun along the way, try a straight.

Hope you enjoyed the read.

Thanks for the review. I have wondered what three passes the old way (schick) would be like.

When I shaved with cartridges I did one pass maybe a bit of touch up. Did you always do several passes? Maybe I was wrong all along

Originally Posted by JTmke

Thanks for the review. I have wondered what three passes the old way (schick) would be like.

When I shaved with cartridges I did one pass maybe a bit of touch up. Did you always do several passes? Maybe I was wrong all along

No, I would usually shave in the shower, one pass, missed patches, didn't care. If it was a special occasion, I would make more effort, but not a lot more, never did two passes and never even crossed my mind to try that. I had never even tried a brush or soap till I discovered SRP, it was always that canned rubbish. I don't know if many here were taught to shave by their father or anyone, but I certainly wasn't.

I wish my dad were still around. He used the can but had a gillette fat boy. Bet I could have had him try a straight.

I think the modern cartridges add blades to eliminate second and third passes. Early versions caused irritation so they keep adding gizmos to make them more comfortable.

I may give one a try but I do enjoy the straight shave everyday. I find it hard to get my DEs in rotation

I wouldn't bother even trying one, here is why;

Update, the day after the shave I noticed a pimple on my chin, haven't had one since Adam was a cowboy, by day 2 it looked like something that could hit a mirror at 10 paces, day 3, it was starting to resemble a trailer for the latest alien movie, day 4, people were calling me Quasimodo, day 5, my wife refused to be seen in public with me.......
I read the packaging, and there is MINERAL OIL in the lubricating strip, don't know if that was the cause, but it just doesn't seem right to me.

Thanks - that fascinating you posted this.

I wonder what it would be like to shave again with a Mach 3, only using the shaving techniques I now know couple with the knowledge of how my beard grows, along with some nice soap and a badger brush....might be worthy of a mass SRP Mach 3 SOTD.....

Originally Posted by Grazor

Well, like many on the forum, I was never taught how to shave, so after 2 years here, I thought I would re-visit a cartridge razor, and apply what I have learnt. One of the worst things I recall about the Mk 3 was clogging issues. I only shave probably on average twice a week, so to give this thing a fair go, I shaved with 2 days growth, used my usual prep, and did three passes.
First gripe, they are advertising down here "shaving from as little as $1 a week" with an asterix and some disclaimer at the bottom that I can't read, but at current prices, that means 1 cart would have to last 8 weeks. Calling B/S on that, wouldn't keep the hair on my knuckles at bay for a week.
I didn't realise this was the power model until I unpacked it, so, in the name of science, I used that function. This makes it vibrate, impossible to say if that makes any difference, just a gimmick in my mind, but it does have a cool little blue light when switched on.
Surprisingly, it did not clog as much as I thought it would, 4 days growth, I am sure would be a different story.
Second gripe, the cart is so big, I couldn't get in under my nose, no matter how I tried, cleaned up with a straight.
The shave was easy, and close, on the face marginally closer than I can get with a straight (so far), the neck, about the same, one small weeper, almost no irritation. YMMV.

Ease of use - 7/10
Quality of shave - 6/10
Build quality - 5/10 (throw away item, body made in China, reasonably solid)
Wow factor - 2/10 (the blue light)
Value for money - 1/10

So there you have it, will I ever go back to a cartridge razor? No
Will I try to get 8 weeks shaving out of 1 cart? I don't think that is even possible, so, no, where as I know now for a fact I can get 70 out of a straight just on leather.
If you want easy, go for one of these.
If you want cheap and relatively easy, try a DE.
If you want to learn a new skill, and have a whole lot of fun along the way, try a straight.

Hope you enjoyed the read.

You said something very important: never taught how to shave. My dad used an electric razor so I didn't learn from him.

I have told myself for a couple of years that, since I NOW know how to shave with a straight razor, DE, and SE razor, I'd try a cartridge again for old time's sake. When I get to the store, I say, "Naw, I don't want to do that."

Switching to retro-shaving about 4 1/2 years ago is one of the best things I have ever done. My face and I are now on speaking terms.

Lucky enough that my grandchildren live close by. Hope I get to teach my up and coming boys. One is 9 already. Time flies.

Originally Posted by Grazor

Well, like many on the forum, I was never taught how to shave, so after 2 years here, I thought I would re-visit a cartridge razor, and apply what I have learnt. One of the worst things I recall about the Mk 3 was clogging issues. I only shave probably on average twice a week, so to give this thing a fair go, I shaved with 2 days growth, used my usual prep, and did three passes.
First gripe, they are advertising down here "shaving from as little as $1 a week" with an asterix and some disclaimer at the bottom that I can't read, but at current prices, that means 1 cart would have to last 8 weeks. Calling B/S on that, wouldn't keep the hair on my knuckles at bay for a week.
I didn't realise this was the power model until I unpacked it, so, in the name of science, I used that function. This makes it vibrate, impossible to say if that makes any difference, just a gimmick in my mind, but it does have a cool little blue light when switched on.
Surprisingly, it did not clog as much as I thought it would, 4 days growth, I am sure would be a different story.
Second gripe, the cart is so big, I couldn't get in under my nose, no matter how I tried, cleaned up with a straight.
The shave was easy, and close, on the face marginally closer than I can get with a straight (so far), the neck, about the same, one small weeper, almost no irritation. YMMV.

Ease of use - 7/10
Quality of shave - 6/10
Build quality - 5/10 (throw away item, body made in China, reasonably solid)
Wow factor - 2/10 (the blue light)
Value for money - 1/10

So there you have it, will I ever go back to a cartridge razor? No
Will I try to get 8 weeks shaving out of 1 cart? I don't think that is even possible, so, no, where as I know now for a fact I can get 70 out of a straight just on leather.
If you want easy, go for one of these.
If you want cheap and relatively easy, try a DE.
If you want to learn a new skill, and have a whole lot of fun along the way, try a straight.

Hope you enjoyed the read.

One thing I definitely remember about the cartridge is that as time progressed the more often you had to change it. At first it was several weeks before that green strip turned white. Toward the end it was a matter of days. The science behind these blades conflicts with what my face told me. I got a job in June that has me on the run all the time, but isn't it strange I always have the time to give myself a great 3 - pass shave with a straight? And my face feels great. An outstanding shave puts me in a good frame of mind and I walk out the door feeling much better.

I think a complex, high - tech looking razor accomplishes nothing other than getting people to buy it at an inflated price.

Trying to convince others this is a better way of shaving is near impossible, it seems to me anyway.